Vehicle function restriction system

• US 8,487,740 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Tsuruta, Hiroshi, Suzuki, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US12/480,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20090309696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.22, 340/5.31, 340/5.67, 340/5.72, 340/5.8, 340/5.24, 340/5, 340/25, 340/5.7, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/426.35, 70/91, 702/37, 702/58, 702/63, 702/781, 702/782, 702/783, 702/787, 702/831, 702/88, 70337-343, 70388-391, 701/2, 701/1, 701/102, 701/103, 235375-385, 180/270
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/625 Operation and control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7073 Including use of a key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7446 Multiple keys
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7452 Selective shutout type

Abstract

A vehicle function restriction system for installation in a vehicle. The vehicle includes a master key allowed to activate any function of the vehicle. The system includes a valet key mounted in the vehicle and configured to dismountable from the vehicle to be lent to a person to whom the vehicle is lent. A restriction setting unit sets the vehicle in a restriction state when the valet key is dismounted from the vehicle. The restriction setting unit sets at least one restricted vehicle functions which is not activated by the valet key, in accordance with the person to whom the vehicle is lent.

Claims

1. A vehicle function restriction system comprising:

a valet key mounted in a vehicle and configured to be dismountable from the vehicle and lent to a person to whom the vehicle is lent; and

a restriction setting unit which sets the vehicle in a restriction state when the valet key is dismounted from the vehicle, wherein the restriction setting unit sets at least one restricted vehicle function which is not activated by the valet key, in accordance with the person to whom the vehicle is lent;

wherein the valet key is an electronic key which transmits through wireless communication a key code registered in the valet key, establishment of key verification for the key code transmitted from the valet key enables activation of the valet key-activatable functions, and the restriction setting unit generates and registers the key code.

2. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a valid period setting unit which sets a valid period for the valet key.

3. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 1, wherein the restriction setting unit registers the key code in the valet key and a vehicle memory to set the vehicle in the restriction state;

and the restriction setting unit changes the key code whenever the key code is registered.

4. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 1, wherein the restriction setting unit is arranged in the vehicle.

5. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a verification unit which executes key verification on a master key, which is allowed to activate any function of a vehicle, by verifying a key code stored in the master key with a key code registered in a vehicle memory;

wherein the restriction setting unit sets the vehicle in the restriction state after key verification of the master key is established.

6. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a verification unit which executes key verification on a master key by verifying a key code stored in the master key with a key code registered in a vehicle memory, wherein;

when the valet key is mounted in the vehicle, the valet key is stored in a lockable accommodation compartment of the vehicle;

when key verification of the master key is not established, the accommodation compartment is locked and the valet key is not able to be dismounted from the vehicle; and

when key verification of the master key is established, the accommodation compartment is unlocked and the valet key becomes dismountable.

7. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a restriction state changing unit which changes the restriction state of the vehicle, set when the valet key is lent to the person to whom the vehicle is lent, to another restriction state.

8. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a key dock which receives the valet key, in which the restriction setting unit transmits the key code and registers the key code in the valet key when the valet key is received in the key dock.

9. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 8, wherein the valet key includes a memory which stores the key code transmitted from the restriction setting unit.

10. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 1, wherein the restriction setting unit registers a valet key ID in correspondence with the person to whom the vehicle is lent in both a memory of the valet key and a memory of the vehicle to set the vehicle in the restriction state.

11. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a key dock which receives the valet key, in which the key dock ejects the valet key when key authentication of the master key is established and registration of the valet key ID in the memory of the valet key and the memory of the vehicle is completed.

12. A vehicle function restriction system comprising:

a valet key including a memory;

a key dock arranged in a lockable accommodation compartment of a vehicle; and

a control unit coupled to the key dock, wherein the control unit is programmed to;

unlock the accommodation compartment when key verification of a master key is established;

generate a valet key ID in accordance with the person to whom the vehicle is lent;

register the valet key ID in both the memory of the valet key and a memory of the vehicle in response to a request for dismounting the valet key from the key dock; and

thereafter dismount the valet key from the key dock;

wherein the valet key is an electronic key that transmits through wireless communication the valet key ID registered in the valet key, and the control unit is further programmed to enable activation of valet-key-activatable functions after verifying the valet key ID transmitted from the valet key.

13. A vehicle function restriction system comprising:

a valet key mounted in a vehicle and configured to be dismountable from the vehicle and lent to a person to whom the vehicle is lent;

a restriction setting unit which sets the vehicle in a restriction state when the valet key is dismounted from the vehicle, wherein the restriction setting unit sets at least one restricted vehicle function which is not activated by the valet key, and in accordance with the person to whom the vehicle is lent; and

a verification unit which executes key verification on a master key by verifying a key code stored in the master key with a key code registered in a vehicle memory, wherein;

when the valet key is mounted in the vehicle, the valet key is stored in a lockable accommodation compartment of the vehicle;

when key verification of the master key is not established, the accommodation compartment is locked and the valet key is not able to be dismounted from the vehicle; and

when key verification of the master key is established, the accommodation compartment is unlocked and the valet key becomes dismountable.

14. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a valid period setting unit which sets a valid period for the valet key.

15. The vehicle function restriction system according to claim 13, wherein:

the valet key is an electronic key which transmits through wireless communication a valet key code registered in the valet key;

establishment of key verification for the valet key code transmitted from the valet key enables activation of valet key-activatable functions other than the restricted vehicle functions;

the restriction setting unit registers the vale key code in the valet key and a vehicle memory to set the vehicle in the restriction state; and

the restriction setting unit changes the valet key code whenever the valet key code is registered.